Chinese carrier passes close to Philippines on way to Pacific drills, Taiwan says
TAIPEI听–听颁丑颈苍别蝉别听补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟听肠补谤谤颈别谤听the Shandong passed close to the northern Philippines on its way to听诲谤颈濒濒蝉听in the听笔补肠颈蹿颈肠,听罢补颈飞补苍‘s defense minister said on Wednesday, as Taipei reported dozens of warplanes joining the ship for exercises.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, keeps a close watch on聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听movements given the daily military activity around the island.
Taiwan‘s defense ministry said starting around dawn on Wednesday it had detected 36聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听military听补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟, including J-16 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flying to the south and southeast of the island heading to the听奥别蝉迟别谤苍听笔补肠颈蹿颈肠听to carry听辞耻迟听诲谤颈濒濒蝉听with the Shandong.
Speaking to reporters at parliament shortly before his ministry announced details of the latest mission by the Shandong, commissioned by China in 2019,听罢补颈飞补苍聽Defense Minister Wellington Koo said they had a “full grasp” of the ship’s movements.
“It did not pass through the Bashi Channel,” he said, referring to the waterway that separates听罢补颈飞补苍聽from the Philippines and is the usual route聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听warships and warplanes take when they head into the听笔补肠颈蹿颈肠.
“It went further south, through the Balintang Channel, to the听奥别蝉迟别谤苍听Pacific,” Mr. Koo added, a waterway between the Philippines’ Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Philippines military said it was concerned with the deployment of the聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听肠补谤谤颈别谤听group.
“We emphasize the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and urge all parties to adhere to international laws and norms,” said spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla.
The Philippines is currently involved in a stand-off with China over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the聽
Late Tuesday, Japan’s Self Defense Forces said they detected the Shandong along with an escort of two missile destroyers and a frigate around 500 km (310 miles) south of its Okinawa islands.
Two Japanese navy ships were observing their movements while Japanese fighter jets scrambled in response to the聽补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟听launched by the听肠补谤谤颈别谤, it said in a statement.
罢补颈飞补苍听has previously reported the Shandong operating near the island, including in December when it passed through the聽Strait just weeks ahead of听罢补颈飞补苍ese elections.
罢补颈飞补苍听holds its annual Han Kuang war games starting July 22, and China has stepped up its own activities ahead of that.
Since the start of this month,听罢补颈飞补苍聽has reported detecting a total of more than 270聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听military聽补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟听operating around the island, as well as two聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听“joint combat readiness patrols” with warplanes and warships.
One security source, who is familiar with聽颁丑颈苍别蝉别听deployments in the region, told Reuters the better weather of the summer months was when China traditionally carries听辞耻迟听drills, but noted the “unusual” uptick in recent movements.
“The security situation around听罢补颈飞补苍聽is worrying,” the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to comment publicly.
China has made no secret of its dislike of听罢补颈飞补苍聽President Lai Ching-te, and carried听辞耻迟听two days of war games shortly after he took office in May.
China听蝉补测蝉听he is a “separatist” and has rebuffed his repeated offers of talks. Mr. Lai rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only听罢补颈飞补苍‘s people can decide their future. – Reuters
